Hamid and Hushang, Iranian Refugees in Norway: Asylum, Protection, No Forced Return

Norway has denied asylum to Iranians Hushang Parsa and Hamid Gorbani, who identify with the anti-government Green Movement and who fear for their lives if they should be returned to Iran.

The Islamic Republic brutally represses peaceful protesters, journalists, students, and human rights activists within its borders:

Neda Agha Soltan was shot dead in the street, simply for walking among peaceful protesters in June 2009. Mohammad Valian, a 20-year old boy whose only “crime” was calling for freedom and throwing a rock, was sentenced to death. Thousands have been arrested after the 2009 protests. Hundreds of people have been executed.

Under these circumstances, any effort by Norway to forcibly return Hushang Parsa and Hamid Gorbani clearly and egregiously violates of the principle of non-refoulement: “no refugee should be returned in any manner whatsoever to any country where he or she would be at risk of persecution.” Norway has signed the Convention and Protocol on the Status of Refugees, where this principle is enshrined.

Hushang Parsa and Hamid Gorbani warrant refugee status and protection under UN conventions. Norway must recognize the implications of its act in these two cases: violating the principle of non-refoulement will have dire consequences for refugees worldwide, especially for thousands of Iranian refugees surviving precariously in Turkey, Greece and Iraq.

The world does not want these countries to follow a poor example set by Norway.

Please see the following letter-writing campaign for an action that will have immediate impact!
http://missionfreeiran.org/2010/09/26/hamid-and-hushang-stay/